Greg, was that you picketing with that "Change Jose Napoles' rating" sign?Must have been, because his ratings reflect the very things you were talking about.

Back in the 80's, the Big Book of Boxing (one of my very favorite boxing mags of all time) did their monthly dream fight with Ray Leonard against Jose Napoles. It was a barn burner! Eventually, though, Napoles succumbed to cuts around the 13th round, but it was a great fight all the way.

Jim, I don't think Leonard would have been able to handle a prime Napoles, and don't forget if Angelo Dundee who handled both fighters had two fighters he usually cornered the fighter he had been with the longest, in this case Napoles.

Napoles only lost two fights on cuts in an 86 fight career, but as you said it was the 80's when you read the book, and Leonard was a media darling. I also saw both fight live. Napoles against Clyde Gray at Maple Leaf Gardens on September 22, 1973, and saw Leonard fight Roberto Duran at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on June 20, 1980, and was at ringside for both, and was more impressed with Jose.

Getting the right kind of media exposure goes a long way in how history rates certain fighters. How about a prime Duran at Welterweight against a prime Napoles? I'm talking about the Duran who fought Leonard in Montreal.

I can't believe the last time I was in this thread was back in February when I was on holidays, and to answre your question Jim, I still think Napoles would have been to much for Duran at Welterweight.

I feel a fighter is generally in his prime in his original division, but in saying that Duran was solid at many weights, but never as great as he was at Lightweight. I still get annoyed at Duran based on his second fight with Leonard.

The Duran - Leonard fight in Montreal was originally announced as a majority decision, but Claude Mouton the ring announcer had misread the scorecard.

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